Proof: A is Invertible if and only if A^T*A is Invertible | Matrix Algebra

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In summary, for a square matrix A, A is invertible if and only if the matrix A^T*A is invertible. This can be proven using the properties of determinants and by showing that if A is invertible, then A^T*A is also invertible. The converse is also true.
  • #1
physicsss
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Suppose that A is a square. Show that A is invertible if and only if A^T*A is invertible.

I know that if A is an m X n matrix, m>=n, and rkA=n, then the n X n matrix A^T*A is invertible, and that rk(A^TA)= rkA, but I'm still not sure how to start the proof...

TIA
 
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  • #2
Can you use the determinant?
 
  • #3
Yes, but how does that help me?
 
  • #4
M is invertible if and only if det(M) is not zero.

det(M) is the same as det(M^t)

det(MN)=det(M)det(N)

if x and y are real (or complex) numbers and xy=0 then one of x or y is zero.
 
  • #5
det(A) = det(A^t) and det(AB) = det(A)det(B) (for all matrices A, B of the proper size).

If A is invertible, then det(A) != 0, so that det(A^t) != 0, and therefore det(AA^t) = det(A)det(A^t) != 0, i.e. AA^t is invertible.

The converse is similar.
 
  • #6
snap. why was the title inner products though?
 

1. What is an inner product?

An inner product is a mathematical operation that takes two vectors and returns a scalar value. It is often denoted as <x,y> and can be thought of as a measure of the similarity between two vectors.

2. How is an inner product different from a dot product?

An inner product is a generalized version of the dot product, which is specific to vectors in two- and three-dimensional space. An inner product can be defined for vectors in any dimensional space, as long as certain properties are satisfied.

3. What are the properties of an inner product?

An inner product must satisfy four properties: linearity in the first argument, symmetry, positive definiteness, and conjugate symmetry. These properties ensure that the inner product is a well-defined operation and has useful properties for mathematical analysis.

4. In what fields is the concept of inner product used?

The concept of inner product is used in various fields of mathematics, including linear algebra, functional analysis, and geometry. It also has applications in physics, computer science, and engineering, where it is used to define useful mathematical structures and solve problems.

5. Can an inner product be negative?

Yes, an inner product can be negative. This can happen when the angle between two vectors is greater than 90 degrees, resulting in a negative scalar value. However, an inner product must always be positive when the angle is less than or equal to 90 degrees, as per the property of positive definiteness.

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